Vehicle body



Dec. 1925- R. l... SOUTHERN VEHICLE BODY Filed Feb. 15

' I VENTO RL R Patented Dec. 1, 1925.

UNITED STATES ROBERT LEE SOUTHERN, OF BERKELEY, CALIFORNIA.

VEHICLE BODY.

Application filed February 15, 1923. Serial No. 619,241.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known tha-t I, ROBERT LEE SoUTH- ERN, a citizen of the United States, anda resident of Berkeley, county of Alameda, State of California, have invented a new and useful Vehicle Body, of which the following is a specifica-tion.

Thel present invention relates to improvements in bodies for motor vehicles and the like and its particular object is to provide a body of particularlygraceful lines in which the fenders are made an integral part of the body, the latter rising from the place normally occupied by the outer edges of the fenders in a substantially unbroken line. A further object of the invention is to eliminate the foot boards runnin along side of the car so that the whole boy presents the appearance of a compact unit defined by sub? stantially unbroken horizontal lines as well' as vertical lines. .By means of this construction a true streamline shape is appreached, there being. no portions projecti ing from the sides of the body to causey eddy currents and to thereby impede the progress of the motor vehicle. It is further proposed to shape the body in other respects to more truly present a streamline appearance especially with reference to the rear end of the body. It is further intended to show convenient means facilitating the entry into the car. Further objects and advantages of my body will appear as the specication proceeds.

The preferred form of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which Figure 1 shows a side view of my vehicle body, Figure 2 a front viewof the same, Figure 3 a rear view and Figure 4 a detail view showing a disappearing step associated with a door'of my body. While I have shown only the preferred form of the invention it should be understood that various changes or modifications may be made within the scope of the claim hereto attached without departing from the spirit of the invention. v

The principal distinctive feature f m automo ficient-ly wide to cover the wheels (2) in the Same manner as is normally done by the fenders. The body rises from its lower margin (3) which is disposed outside of the wheels in a substantially unbroken smooth linel (Il) to the top (6) which is substantially fiat but muy be curved slightly.

`the latterbut of the way.

lle body (l) is that it is built Suf- 1 The running board normally connecting the front and rear fenders'of the motor vehicles as constructed at the present time is omitted entirely so that no part extends laterally from the body to mar the beauty of the same or to offer resistance to its forward travel.

The body is thus made as one compact unit with only slight curvatures in the longitudinal lines, the latter occurring principally about thepower access to the same. The latter curvature is indicated at (.7) in the front View. The same principle holds true for the vertical lines of the body, practically all of which are unbroken and curvatures, being proT vided onlyaround the power plant. This construction, besides making for beautiful appearance, offers other `advantages.V The fenders and the running board used at the plant so as to admit of easy present time usually work loose after the car Y has been operated a certain length of time and cause annoying noises which are elimi-y nated by my structure. the smooth construction of my car would in many instances allow two collidingv cars to slide along side of each other without do'- l lng any harm while two cars provided with running boards and fenders as used at the "present time would catch and either tear yoff thefenders or cause other injury. My'

construction also makes the car up. proof since side of the car tofor the pur stop Neither of my construction by in yon the same since almost holdthere, is nothing on the outpose of forcing the driverto another car cutting my car could push To render the construction stronger I prov1de`a metal lining or reinforcing strip (8) along the lower around the whole machine in one continuous line. The latter reinforcing strip wouldbe adapted to receive any severe shocks and to distribute the same over the entire body.

The rear end (9) of my body bulgesout-` wardly and comes to a substantially centralpoint`(11) at which latter point the rear ight (12) should be mounted. In this manner the rear end is streamlined and prevents eddy currents due to suction. Two headlights (13) may be mounted in the front end in their ordinary position. and I preferably use another' headlight (14) near the top of the body in a central position. Lateral doors (16) are provided in the usual man- In case of collision Y allowing a person to cling on l would it be easy to stop a car margin of the body passing ner and have steps whichdisappear underneath the body of the car when the doors are closed while they are swung outwardly with the doors into an operative position to facilitate the entry into the car. (19) may be arranged on the doors to constitute a shield against rain when the doors are opened. H

`The windshield (21) which preferably also forms an integral part of the bodyl is alsostreamlined slightly and provided with lateral windows (22). (23) are provided in the doors and another Window (24) in the rear end of the body.

It will readily appear that a compact body of the character described would be considerablystronger than any car having many loose and assembled parts.. be cheaper in construct-ion since less labor is required for. the assembling. The power plant would be more readily accessible since it is not necessary to bend over the fender or runningl board to reach the spari: plugs (17) associated therewith- Corresponding top members Suitable windows It should also or other parts thatvmay need attention. vA body of my design would have larger seating capacity than the bodies now commonly used and yet be graceful in outline.

I claim: l y

An enclosed body and engine hood for passenger motor vehicles, comprising a shell adapted to lextend laterally and longitudinally over the'upper segments of the ground wheels of the. vehicle and extending vertically along the sides of the body 1n unbroken lines and flush with the portions overhanging the wheels, the said sides of the body converging slightly at their upper ends and joined by pan.' arched roof and further joined at their rear ends by'an arched end wall, the said sides being further provided ntermediatelyl with door openings extending through the lower edges thereof together with doors disposed in the said openings, and areinforcing lip around the entire lower edge of the'v shell.

ROBERT LEE SOUTHERN. 

